25th Cache River Days celebration planned in Ullin

The 25th annual Cache River Days celebration is planned Sept. 5-8 in Ullin.

Cache River Days celebrates the half-million acre Cache River Watershed in Southern Illinois.

New this year at Cache River Days are Jordan Rhymer children’s train rides and Krispy Kreme donuts.

Cache River Days activities are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, today, with a community worship service at the park.

A beauty pageant is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at the Leona Brust Civic Center.

Activities scheduled for Saturday and Sunday follow:

Saturday, Sept. 7

7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Welcome tent. Silent auction, t-shirts, beautiful  baby contest.

6:30 a.m. Register for 5K walk/run. More information, 618-924-3634.

7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flea markets, food vendors.

8 a.m. Registration. First 100 people receive a free Krispy Kreme donut.

8 a.m. 5K walk/run.

8 a.m. Slow pitch softball tournament. More information, 618-306-4409.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bounce Blast.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children’s train rides.

10:30 a.m. Parade line up.

11 a.m. Parade.

11:45 a.m. Parade awards, welcome tent.

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Music festival.

5 p.m. Cornhole tournament. More information, 618-697-3786.

Sunday, Sept. 8

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Flea markets, food vendors.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Welcome tent. Silent auction, t-shirts, beautiful baby contest.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bounce Blast, water slide.

Noon to 3 p.m. Children’s train rides.

1:15 p.m. 50/50 drawing.

1:15 p.m. Beautiful baby contest closes.

1:45 p.m. Beautiful baby contest awards.

Organizers voiced appreciation to the Cache River Days committee, Village of Ullin Mayor Mike DeWitt and the village’s board of trustees, Friends of the Cache River Watershed, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and all other businesses for their donations and assistance.

Nature Fest

A Nature Fest will be part of the Cache River Days celebration.

Nature Fest is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Nature Fest will highlight birds, mammals, fish, reptiles and amphibians and plants found in the Cache River Wetlands.  

For those who want to venture out in the Cache River Wetlands, free canoe tours are scheduled throughout the day.

The Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center near Cypress is scheduled to be open through the weekend. 

Nature Fest Programs and Activities

Birds of Prey Show. 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Staff from Free Again Wildlife Rehabilitation will present a close-up view of live owls, hawks and other avian predators. 

Wildlife rehabilitator Beverly Shofstall will share facts about the natural history of each species and current issues facing raptors in the wild.

Asian Carp Fry. Free tasting all day. Fishery biologists with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will give visitors an opportunity to learn about native fish and other aquatic life in the Cache and Illinois waterways.  

The activity also will demonstrate the tricks of filleting and preparing Asian carp, which is an invasive species that crowds out native fish throughout Illinois waterways.  

Cold-Blooded Creatures of the Cache. All day. Visitors will be able to get an up-close look at snakes, lizards, frogs, toads and salamanders which are found in the Cache River Wetlands.

Kids Corner. All day. Families are invited to be a part of this activity. Children will be able to create  their own bandanas using wildlife stamps. Temporary bird tattoos also will be available.

Conservation Trailer. All day. Law enforcement officers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be on hand to answer questions about hunting, fishing and other recreational activities. 

A wildlife education program trailer will offer visual and educational resources for those who are interested in the outdoors.

Cache River Wetlands Canoe Tour. Tours offered throughout the day.

Staff will provide three guided tours through Buttonland Swamp on a canoe trail that meanders through backwater sloughs to the state champion bald cypress.

There is limited space on each tour. Preregistration is available by calling 618-634-2231. Information also will be available in the welcome tent on the day of the event.

Activities at the Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center 

The center is located at 8885 State Route 37, 3 miles south of Cypress. 

Which Grass is Which? 10 a.m. to noon. University of Illinois Extension educator Erin Medvecz will share tips and techniques to help identify 30 different grasses in Southern Illinois. 

After the presentation,  those attending the program will be able to take a hike with Medvecz to identify grasses around the wetlands center.

Galls Gone Wild. 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Forest pest outreach coordinator Tricia Bethke will teach visitors how to identify galls based on their size, shape and color. The natural history of gall on deciduous trees also will be discussed.

Registration for the free program is available by calling the wetlands center at 618-657-2064. 

More information about the weekend’s events is available by contacting event chairman Mike or Millie DeWitt at 618-845-3445.